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In a significant diplomatic and economic development, Morocco and the European Union have successfully wrapped up negotiations aimed at updating their agricultural trade agreement, according to an official announcement by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Thursday in Rabat.
Bourita confirmed that the revised agreement is expected to be formally signed “very shortly” in Brussels. While both parties are currently completing necessary internal legal and administrative procedures, the new terms will be applied provisionally as soon as the agreement is signed.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that the updated text of the agreement includes crucial clarifications that align with Morocco’s core national principles and territorial integrity. The revision remains consistent with the framework and commitments set out in the 2018 exchange of letters between Morocco and the EU, which serves as a diplomatic foundation for cooperation.
A key element of the amended accord is the reaffirmation of preferential tariff treatment extended by the EU to Moroccan agricultural products, including those originating from the southern provinces—commonly referred to as Western Sahara. This ensures that goods produced in regions such as Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab will enjoy the same trade advantages as those from northern Morocco.
Moreover, the revised agreement introduces enhanced technical provisions aimed at improving transparency in the agricultural supply chain. These include stricter labeling requirements, mandating that agricultural products clearly indicate their region of origin. Packaging will now explicitly identify products from the southern regions by name, thereby promoting traceability and aligning with EU regulatory standards.
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Bourita underscored that this agreement not only strengthens trade relations between Morocco and the EU but also reaffirms the EU’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces through its continued application of trade preferences to those regions. This development marks a step forward in bilateral cooperation and could set a precedent for future agreements concerning trade, regional development, and political diplomacy.
